By Michele Sierra
During the Uttaratantra Teachings in Australia 2008 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche announced that he had invited one of his senior students, Jakob Leschly to be resident teacher for Siddhartha’s Intent in Australia. Rinpoche expressed confidence in Jakob to relay the authentic Buddhist teachings according to the Khyentse lineage.
It was not until I had the good fortune to attend several of these teachings and also the 10 day Vipashyana retreat , that I realised what a great blessing and opportunity Rinpoche has given our Australian sangha.
Throughout the year we studied the student practice manual, refined some of the pith instructions for the Riwo Sangcho practice and contemplated the profound text “The Great Medicine”, written by Shechen Gyaltsap Rinpoche, the first root teacher to His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and explained by Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche.

Rosebank Vipashyana Retreat 2009

On each occasion we gathered together in a small group which allowed time to reflect and formulate questions or request clarification as we went along. These study groups with Jakob were structured in such a way, that there was time to go through the profound teachings offered in the allocated text – contemplate – ask questions – invite Jakob’s comments and later meditate together with our local Sangha. There was also an option, if required, for individual interviews with Jakob to support or refine personal practice.

Blue Mountains Vipashyana Retreat 2010 Photo by Hugo Croci

Blue Mountains Retreat 2010 Photo by Paul Stevenson

Blue Mountains Retreat 2010 Photo by Paul Stevenson

As a participant in these study groups and Vipashyana retreat, what has been immensely important for me is that Jakob stays true to the authentic Teachings (doesn’t offer a diluted version of Buddhism) He has the knowledge and capacity to make the most complex and profound concepts accessible to people of varying degrees of familiarity with Buddhist philosophy and practice. Through his own practice, as a student of Buddhism, of effort, diligence, self reflection- as well as powerful personal stories of the great Masters, I feel both humbled and inspired by him. In chaotic times like these and with the information overload we all experience, Jakob is able to speak to the intellect as well as the heart using the authentic language of his lineage masters. His modern method of teaching and accessibility has offered a renewed inspiration and appreciation in my own study and practice of Buddhism.

Click here for a link to Jakobs Teaching schedule for rest of year

and please note Jacobs next retreat for SIDDHARTHA’S INTENT AUSTRALIA
10 Day Vipassanā Retreat – Rosebank NSW
30th September – 10th October 2010

The Tree of Enlightenment

By the Late DR Peter Della Santina

Book cover design by Siddartha Della Santina

by Pam Croci
During the Teachings in Bangalow, Australia this year Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche recommended that people to read books which outline the basic teaching of the Buddha and the history of the development of these Teachings. This is such a book.
An ideal book for the beginner who comes to Buddhism with a good scholastic discipline. An ideal book for a jaded older student like me for here you will find refreshing reference material that will help bring the mind back to the basics and inspire us to practise. The book has been reprinted and donated for free distribution by The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation in Taiwan
Website: www.budaedu.org
Email: overseas@budaedu.org
For Australian students this book is available through the Maha Bodhi Buddhist Centre in Sydney.
www.maharts.com.au
Download this book at http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_g.htm

About the Author

Peter was born in the USA and has spent many years studying and teaching in South and East Asia. His qualifications are numerous leading up to his PhD. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Delhi, India in 1979. He then worked for three years for the Institute for Advanced Studies of World Religions, Fort lee, New Jersey as a research scholar translating 8th century Buddhist philosophical texts from the Tibetan.
He taught at several Universities and Buddhist centres in Europe and Asia. He was a senior fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Simla, India and taught Philosophy at the Fo Kuang Shan Academy of Chinese Buddhism, Koah-Shiung, Taiwan.
For twenty five years Peter was a student of H.H. Sakya Trizin. He practised Buddhist meditation and completed a number of retreats.
More info on his life and works can be found at www.peterdellasantina.org

Photos by Claire Farman

Eclipsed Moon in Sri Lanka

On the path

On the path still

Shadows in Sri Lanka

“One way or another, the majority of students and practitioners from all the different lineages of Tibetan Buddhism will have a connection with Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Some of us are fortunate enough to consider ourselves as his students. The present Yangsi Rinpoche, without a single doubt, embodies the previous Khyentse Rinpoche’s presence, wisdom and compassion. Now, for the first time, Yangsi Rinpoche is travelling to the West. This journey is a rare gift from His Eminence Rabjam Rinpoche and establishes our continuous, uninterrupted connection with Kyabje Khyentse Rinpoche and the Khyentse lineage. I hope those who have time and space will make a point to participate in this program”

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche , Dec 21, 2009

An Invitation to Celebrate Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche’s

Return to the West

His Eminence Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche & Matthieu Ricard cordially invite you to H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. The year 2010 marks the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche (1910–1991), one of the most remarkable spiritual teachers of our time. To mark this special occasion, there will be ongoing activities celebrating his life and paying tribute to the benefits and activities he accomplished. Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, his tulku or reincarnation, will give teachings, and preside over the ceremonies and offerings in Asia and abroad.

The celebration event in Hong Kong will be held in 2 days on 9th Oct and 10th Oct 2010. This event is free of charge and open to public. The event will be conducted in English with Putonghua interpretation. You can simply sign up for the event and receive an instant email confirmation letter. Please print out the email confirmation letter and bring it along for entry. Free seating is available on first-come, first-serve basis.

NB : Australian Students please note that there are 4 day package deals to Hong Kong
at this time for $A1000.00

Also Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche will be concluding his tour in India.

Nov 26 – Dec 5 Rangjung Pema Nyingthink Drupchen at Shechen Monastery in Bodhgaya, India

Dec 28 – 30 Closing Celebrations in Bodhgaya.

For further information regarding India leg of this tour email: samtshe@gmail.com

For details, please see the event e-flyer or visit www.dilgokhyentse.hk
For enquiries, please feel free to contact via email at info@dilgokhyentse.hk

Best Regards,
Organizing Committee of H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche’s 100th Anniversary Celebration – Hong Kong

Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche at Lerab Ling, France Photo from Rigpa

The photo on the left is Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche being received at Lerab Ling Temple in France during anniversary celebrations earlier this year.

Click this link to see photos of Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche at Nyima Dzong, Lama Kunsang’s gompa near Nice in France earlier this year. Photos by Olivier Vin.

Click this link to see photos from The Long Life Empowerment that Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche gave in New York. Hosted by Mangala Shri Buti, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

A Teaching from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in Australia.
As many of you will have experienced over the years Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche has a particular style of teaching. Very generous and inclusive.

During the Uttaratantra Shastra teaching at Bangalow, in Australia this year, there was a particular section in these teachings that caught the mind of many of us as being a most delightful and relatable explanation of the six Paramitas. I have only lightly edited this passage so those of you who have not heard Rinpoche directly can appreciate the humour and deep affection as well as the profound wisdom that infuses Rinpoche’s style of Teaching.

The Six Fondnesses

“ For the path dweller to be virtuous and to accumulate virtuous deeds is so important. To think virtuously is very important. However good deeds have so many obstacles. These obstacles can be categorised into the six fondnesses.”
“What are they – it is quite interesting – they are the six different kinds of love.”
Rinpoche invites a definition.  “What is love by the way?” (Audience laughter)

Audience responds with some words.

“Tenderness, yes tenderness. That is good. Tenderness I think I like. A soft spot. A Fondness.”
1. “ There is a certain type of rat that is always collecting things – a pack rat. This kind of attitude, a tenderness towards, a fondness for collecting attacks generosity, the first paramita.”
2. “ The next is a tenderness, a fondness towards not staying out of trouble. A very good one, this, I thought. A fondness to trouble.”

Mischievous?  (Audience)

“Mischievous is something kind of good. No? Well according to us it is,” ( Rinpoche and audience laughter) “ This fondness of not staying out of trouble becomes the obstacle to discipline.”

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Bangalow 2010 Photo by Bridget Gebbie

3. “The fondness to making the point is the obstacle to patience”
4. “ Fondness to carelessness is the obstacle to diligence “ Sloppiness. Yes. Sloppiness is good. Messiness. A fondness to Australians. No, No, No I am just…”
5. “ A fondness to be dependent, to be co-dependent. We have a fondness for wanting space, for respecting human rights but that’s all talk. Behind our actions we have a fondness to be dictated to, to be controlled by others. Fondness to be dominated by an object “
“ A bit like having a girlfriend or a boyfriend. To have someone who can change their mood faster than lightning. That’s terrible,”
(Lots of laughter)
“Basically we love dependency even though we talk about independence. This is the obstacle to meditation – samadhi. “
6. “Now this is a really good one. Fantastic this one. You know how the French  – I hope there are no French people here  – love smelly cheese.  We love disgusting stuff like pig’s nose. There is tenderness, a fondness for liking bad stuff, or for liking cheap stuff, so that is why we need wisdom.”

“ These things, these six fondnesses are the mastermind, the planner, the mover, the fixer of non virtuous deeds. They lead to non-virtuous action. They sustain, they enhance, the non-virtuous action. The six paramitas are there because these fondnesses need to be analysed and attacked.”

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.



From the archives, Sydney, Australia 1984.

This is a brief summary of Rinpoche’s first visit to Russia in July of this year. According to Rinpoche, this historic trip has been 20 years in the making, starting with the first invitation by Victor, a legendary Russian chö practitioner who lived in Nepal.

During his time in Russia, Rinpoche visited and gave teachings in Moscow, Kunphenling retreat center near Moscow, and St.Petersburg.

Visit Highlights

Rinpoche in Red Square Photo by Arne Schelling

Rinpoche visited Red Square including Lenin Mausoleum as well as Kremlin Cathedrals–resting places of many Russian tsars, including Ivan the Terrible.

Rinpoche visited Leo Tolstoy museum, which featured Leo Tolstoy’s correspondence with Mahatma Gandhi on the topic of spreading the view of practical compassion in the world.

Rinpoche visited a first Moscow Stupa of Enlightenment (the only stupa in Moscow) built on the ground of Roerich Museum.

Rinpoche held a luncheon with Moscow-area volunteers who helped with the visit.

Rinpoche met with several dharma patrons and discussed their various projects in Russia, such as:

• Translation of the Dudjom Tersar sadhanas into Russian
• Collaboration across Russian, Buryat and Kalmyk Buddhist sanghas to build first Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Moscow
• Project to bring several Buddhist relics from Sri Lanka and Burma to Russia

Teachings

In both Moscow and St. Petersburg, Rinpoche gave evening talks (open and free to the public) on “Fundamental View of Buddhism”. In each case, the talk was attended by over a hundred people.

Listening to Rinpoche In Russia Photo by Arne Schelling

In St.Petersburg Rinpoche gave a weekend teaching on Madhyamakāvatara. (First six chapters of Russian translation of Rinpoche’s commentary on Madhyamaka are available on Russian website, khyentse.ru). The weekend teaching was warmly received and attended by over 100 people.

In Kunphenling (a retreat center near Moscow), Rinpoche gave a three day retreat on Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s short Ngondro from the Longchen Nyingtik, which was attended by to close to 200 people, hailing from all over Russia. (A particularly moving story included Rinpoche’s meeting with a teenage boy from a small town in rural Russia, who was absolutely new to Buddhism, and upon learning of Rinpoche over the internet, saved his earnings for 8 months to be able to travel to Rinpoche’s retreat.) Teachings from the retreat were broadcast to both Dharma Gars under the direction of Rinpoche (European Gar and North American Gar).

Also in Kunphenling, Rinpoche conducted a Gesar Sang during which a Peace Vase was buried on the grounds of the retreat center. Rinpoche’s moving teaching about Peace Vase project generated tremendous enthusiasm in the project among Russian sangha. Several sanghas are in contact with us regarding possible placement of the vases in Russia (Samara and Siberia near Lake Baikal), Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and others.

Also

Due to generous support and sponsorship of this visit by Khyentse Foundation and Siddhartha’s Intent many students who would not otherwise be able to hear Rinpoche’s teachings, were able to participate. Both public talks were free, and there was only a nominal charge for the weekend retreats in both cities.

Rinpoche in Russia Photo by Arne Schelling

Concurrent with the visit, a second printing of the Russian translation of “What Makes you Not a Buddhist?” was released in paperback.

A Russian audio book of “What Makes you Not a Buddhist?” in Russian is now also available, read by a famous theater actor and movie director Ivan Vyrypaev.

Teachings were recorded on video and audio by Arne Schelling and Alexandra Ermoshina and will be available for KF/SI archive.

Photo documentation of the trip was conducted by Arne Schelling, David Zwieback and several teaching participants

To date, the Russian website for this trip (khyentse.ru) received 1,946 unique visits, mostly from Russia and the Ukraine.

Recording of the Russia teachings (with translation) will be available free of charge on the khyentse.ru website for 15 days following posting.

Incognito Photo by Arne Schelling

As we approach the 20-year anniversary of Siddhartha’s Intent involvement in the project, about 2,000 peace vases remain to be buried.

By Noa Jones

Toward the end of his life, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche initiated The Peace Vase Project , a global effort to increase peace, harmony, and well-being by placing 6,200 treasure vases, or terbüm, in carefully selected locations around the planet. Terbüm are containers filled with medicines, precious substances, and mantras that have traditionally been used by Tibetans to protect important places against misfortune and to promote positive, healing energies. Similar sacred vases are used by some North American Indian tribes to heal the land and to restore peace.

In 1991, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche agreed to take over responsibility for the project. Tibetan Buddhist astrology and other ancient methods are used to select burial sites for the vases—oceans, lakes and rivers, holy places, places of war and strife, and ecologically degraded or endangered natural sites.

So far, about 4,000 vases have been buried or submerged in many extraordinarily remote locations, from the South Pole to the Pamir region of Tajikistan, but about 2,000 remain. As we approach the 20-year anniversary of consecration of these vases, we encourage the international dharma community to band together to finish what has been started. A network of individuals and coordinators is available to assist.

Some of the remaining vases are in storage in India awaiting transfer to their destinations, and some were taken to other continents but not buried. We need people to help transport the vases from India to a place where they are more easily accessible.  Due to Indian regulations, the vases can no longer be sent by courier or post. We rely entirely on people offering space in their luggage.

What you can do:

• If you have a vase that has not been buried, please carry out the task or ask someone else to do it.If you have several vases in storage, please contact Pema Bidha and let her know. The vases are not meant to remain as shrine objects. They must be buried.
• Visit the Peace Vase Project web site to read inspiring stories of burials.
• Volunteer to work on the project as a coordinator, facilitator, technical advisor, or strategic planner.
• Carry vases from India when you leave the country.

For more information, contact international coordinator Pema Bidha pema@siddharthasintent.org

Peace Vase, Northern Davis Strait, Nunavut Canada (Arctic) Photo by Chris Atkinson

Wonderous blue skies
Drifting white clouds
I am happy to be alive

Sun dancing on leaves
Flowers bowing down
My pain has gone

Sangay Tenzin is a recovering addict who is learning meditation
and haiku through the Deer Park programme, Thimphu, Bhutan.

by Jakob Leschly
The 59 slogans of Lojong practice are found in numerous contexts. This particular sheet features the translation of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and the design is created by the students of the Ven. Traleg Kyabgön. Slogan practice is an extension of studying and reflecting on the Seven Points of Mind Training. Placing this sheet where we regularly see it, is a highly efficient method for recollecting the great vision of the bodhisattva path in our ordinary life.
While the entire Buddhist path is dedicated to ending delusion, and as such renouncing samsara, the Mahayana path is distinguished by the bodhisattva’s renunciation of nirvana as well. As long as there are suffering sentient beings, the bodhisattva will not rest. Some of us may be inspired to travel the great path of the bodhisattvas, and the Tibetan Mahayana traditions have numerous profound teachings on how to generate such awakened courage. The Indian Buddhist master Atisha Dipamkara who came to Tibet in  the 11th century, particularly promoted this path of Lojong and it spread throughout all the Buddhist traditions of Tibet. These are highly practical methods, and lie at the core of Mahayana Buddhist view and practice.

Lojong, or training of the mind, has two aspects – absolute and relative bodhicitta. The first – absolute bodhicitta – is cultivating the greatness of awakening in meditation; the other – relative bodhicitta – is cultivated through joining greatness of awakening with our post-meditation life.

While meditation cultivates absolute bodhicitta by freeing us from the grasp of thoughts, the lojong path of relative bodhicitta skilfully accommodates the dualistic habits of the ordinary post-meditation intellect, yet purifies it of the narrow attitudes that invite suffering. This pro-active engagement of our own psychology brings our entire existence on to the path of awakening. As the lineage masters point out, when the brilliance of the slogans dawn on us, they come to us by themselves. Situations themselves remind us of the slogans and provide the sounding board for our path. As such we do not exclude our path from our ordinary life and our interaction with the world. The slogans ideally should be memorised, but even if we can’t do that, we should invite them to be part of the thoughts that occupy us throughout life.

For a Full Explanation of these 59 Slogans please read;

Enlightened Courage by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

Published by Shechen Publications

Lojong Slogans Image from Kagyu E-vam

Download the above Lojong Slogans jpeg from E-Vam Institute

by Amelia Chow and Ron Stewart
Over the last few years SSRC’s activity has increased with 2009 marking the 15th year open as a retreat centre. In 2009 Sea to Sky Retreat Centre was blessed with the Rinpoche’s presence for a 3 month retreat. Before and after Rinpoche’s retreat, SSRC was fully booked with a variety of community and external group retreat programmes. The 2009 SSRC season began with a Shamatha/Vipashyana retreat that was attended to full capacity and ended with a two week Green Tara ( Zabtik Drolma ) retreat dedicated to Rinpoche’s long life. A full house of participants from Europe, Asia, the USA as well as Canada made this retreat a wonderfully rich event in the icy wonderland of SSRC.

SSRC Lojong Retreat Photo from SSRC

As SSRC does not advertise, it relies on word-of-mouth referrals for its external group bookings. Most of these are by repeat participants delighted with the staff, facilities, and great food. Increasingly, numbers of residents of areas nearby to SSRC such as Whistler, Squamish and Vancouver are attending yoga, therapy, and meditation programmes and confirming SSRC as a valuable regional asset.

In 2010 SSRC has added Dharma Gar retreats to its schedule of community programmes. Also the number of its popular work-as-practice weekends have been increased to one per season; short meditation sessions will bookend the days’ physical work. The Spring’s work weekend focuses on forest clean-up, Summer’s on roadwork and painting, and Autumn’s on winter preparation, tucking in the centre for its sometimes quieter but never dull winter break. There is always much to do as the centre operates its own hydro-electric system, has fire protection and silviculture concerns for its buildings and 40 forested acres, and must maintain 12 buildings and the long private road into the property.

SSRC has developed a plan that covers its financial, human resource, and environmental requirements. Coincidentally, the first draft of this SSRC Sustainability Plan was completed on Earth Day, 22-Apr-2007. Since that time, SSRC staff members, guests and volunteers, as well as Siddhartha’s Intent (SI) Board members have extensively reviewed and commented on this document. The Board also resolved to re-assess the plan annually on Earth Day; an up-to-date version is posted on the SI website:
www.siddharthasintent.org/centres/retreat-centres/ssrc/sustainability.html

MEDITATION & STUDY PROGRAMMES:

Alex Trisoglio has been leading an on-going Sunday morning Dharma group, first at Amelia house, and then, when that sold, in his own apartment. Readings have been from: The Student Manual to Rinpoche’s new Ngondro, Buddhism: A Short History, What the Buddha Taught and both Patrul Rinpoche’s “Words of My Perfect Teacher and Dzongsar Khyentse’s Teachings on that text. Via Skype, sangha members from Victoria, Edmonton, Sooke, Seattle and SSRC have been able to join the wide-ranging and spirited discussions

SI OFFICE IN VANCOUVER

With the sale of Amelia’s house and treasurer Rob MacLachlan’s move to Sooke, the SI office has become a floating one. With our increasing shift to electronic communications these moves have not impeded the work of Siddhartha’s Intent–meetings continue to be held via Skype when gathering is not possible and email communication thrives in the intervals between meetings. In June, SI board members gathered and did a work retreat for 3 days in the very relaxing setting at SSRC. In Amelia’s home office, Pat Armstrong set up the equipment and procedure for volunteers like Lakshmi and Jamyang to digitize teaching cassette tapes. Those already digitized and uploaded are archived at SSRC under Ron’s care.

We regularly invite Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and organise his Teachings in Germany. Also Rinpoche’s Dharma Gar, an open retreat for 10-20 years, and regular study groups lead by his instructors are held near Berlin. In addition to that we are running the Manjughosha Edition under Rinpoche’s guidance to publish rare texts on demand and to translate them into German. If you are travelling through Germany and wish make contact please email Arne Schelling at the.great.sun@gmx.de

Click here for Siddharthas Intent web page Europe in German and English

Afternoon mantra: "There are more important things to attend too", Berlin, Dharma Gar 2010 by Tineke Adolphus

A centre for art and contemplation….

By Shenphen Zangpo
Prior to moving from Taipei to Thimphu to establish a new Deer Park centre, I had little knowledge about Bhutan. While I understood, that the needs of people who live in a small city hidden in the folds of the Himalayas, would obviously be far different from those who live under the gaze of skyscrapers and neon, it was far from clear what those needs would be. As an indication, Rinpoche had merely said that we should reach out to the youth and that our activities should be low key.

Meditation at Deer Park Thimphu

As a firm believer in the allegory of Dharma being like gold – the essence remaining, while the form adapts to circumstances – I felt sure that with Rinpoche’s blessings Deer Park would find a niche in Bhutan’s society. After two years of twists and turns, we currently have a small centre that is conveniently located in a youth complex near the centre of town. Here, we hold weekly meditation and discussion gatherings as well as mindfulness classes for children and screenings of indie movies. Since the inauguration of the centre in 2008, the classes have continued to expand, and in particular the meditation meetings and movie nights have gained a strong following.
Outside the centre, we organise a nightly drug outreach program, meditation classes at two colleges and a drug rehab centre and engage in social activities, such as cleaning the city dog pound and reforestation.
In the future, I would like to offer more activities based on the contemplative disciplines and also increase the number of treks to sacred sites for recovering drug addicts. Along with meditation, I hope such activities can provide the means for the youth of Bhutan to fully embrace the opportunities of the modern world, while at the same time giving them the skills to remain firmly rooted in the wisdom traditions of the kingdom.

Meditation Class In Changjiji, Thimpu. Between 90 -100 kids attend twice weekly

Shenphen Zangpo

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche teaching at Warsaw University Library,
Warsaw, Poland, July 2010

Warsaw University Library Photo by Rafael Izyk

Rinpoche teaching in Warsaw Photo by Rafael Izyk

Rinpoche in front of Warsaw University Library's famous wall
Photo by Rafael Izyk

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche teaching from The Way of the Bodhisattva in Prague,
Czech Republic, August 2010

DJK Rinpoche teaching in Prague, Czech Republic Photo by Vladimir Vimr

Listening to Rinpoche teach in Prague Photo by Vladimir Vimr